Feed-roller for lumber-machines.



T. A. COLEMAN.

FEED ROLLER FQR LUMBER MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 5, 1915.

6 1 9 1 2 1 PW e D d e A U n DU l 3 P 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. A. COLEMAN. FEED ROLLER FOR LUMBER MACHINES.

RPPLICATION FILED AP R. 5, Wig- 1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

e M P THOMAS A. coLnMAn, or VREDENBUBGH, ALABAMA, Assreivon TO PETER vnnnniv- ,BURGH, an, or vnnnnivnunei-r, ALABAMA.

FEED-ROLLER FOR LUMBER-MACHINES.

Application filed. April 5, 1915.

handling machinery, and more specifically to a form of feed roller designed to be employed in various forms of lumber manufacturing machinery such as edgers, lath mills, re-sawers, and the like.

In these forms of lumber machinery, the stock is fed to one or more saws which cut it longitudinally for the purpose of making it a proper width and squaring its edges. The lumber is fed and held to the action of the saws by cooperating feeding rollers between which it is fed and by which it is engaged so as to insure the proper progressive movement and prevent lateral movement. As is particularly the case in gang edgers, the lumber handled is green and rough, and as a rule heavy. It necessarily follows that in handling such lumber, the feed rollers are subjected to very hard usage and excessive stresses. As a result, it is necessary to make the feed rollers heavy and to mount them securely in the machine. The characteristic feature of feed rollers for this type of work is the provision on their outer faces of some form of irregularities or projections, the function of which is to engage the lumber so that the roller will have a proper purchase thereon to insure its being fed properly and held against lateral movement. The form of these irregularities or engaging elements may vary according to the nature of the stock which the machine is designed to handle. However, in all machines, and particularly in gang edgers, these engaging elements, being the portions by which the force is transmitted from the rollers to the lumber,

are subjected to hard usage, with the result that they are from time to time distorted, worn down, or broken off. The repair of feed rollers damaged in this fashion is an important consideration, for the reason that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. l2, 19th..

Serial No. 19,418.

a roller when so damaged, will feed the stock irregularly, and produce crooked or badly sawed boards.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a form of feed roller in which the various parts are so assembled and held together, that any of the engaging elements which may become damaged, may be easily and quickly removed and replaced without necessitating the removal of the roller from its hearings, or a cessation of the work of the machine for any appreciable time.

A further object of my invention is to provide a form of feed roller which is exceptionally strong for its size and weight,

which may be easily and cheaply manufactured, which is so constructed as to facilitate handling in shipment and installation, which is made up of interchangeable parts any of which is readily replaceable without necessitating waste of any undamaged parts,

and which is capable of various adaptations rendering it usable on any of a variety of lumber handling machines requiring different forms of feed rollers.

Other and further objects of my invention will be obvious or pointed out herein after.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a part longitudinal section and part side view of my improved feed roller; Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating a modified form of engaging element and holding collar; Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 1 but of a modified form; Fig. 5 is an end view of the form of holding collar illustrated in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4:.

By reference to the drawings, it will be understood that 1 represents a shaft which is suitably mounted in the bearings 2 forming a part of the framing of the machine, said shaft being adapted for rotation by any suitable driving mechanism. The end portions 1 of the shaft may be reduced or machined down as illustrated in Fig. 1, leaving the intermediate and maximum portion of the shaft somewhat larger in diameter. Onone or both of the ends of the intermediate portion a thread 4 is out. There is a plurality of duplicate carriers 5, cylindrical in form, axially cored to receive the shaft 1, and counter-cored to form the beariiig portions 5 which engage and fit upon the shaft. The ends of the carriers are bev- 5 Engaging elements 6 in the form of strips of steel, or other material of "high tensile strength, are formed to fit removably in the seats '5. These engaging elements are slightly longer than the carriers 5, and their 10 endsare beveledso that their inner edges "are longer than their outer edges. These beveled ends of the engaging elements project beyond the adjacent beveled faces 5 of the carriers. The width of the engaging elements 6 issuch that they project any desired' idistance from the curved faces of the carriers, and thelr pro ecting edges may be toothed, serI-'ated, or tapered down in any "desired form.

I The carriers 5 are disposed on the shaft 1 alternately with holding collars 7. These holding collars 7 are in the formof circular disks axially aper'tured to fiton the shaft 1, and undercut on opposite sides from their 5 peripheries with any bevel suitable to conform to the beveled ends of the engaging elements 6. The holding collars 7 as well as the carriers 5, areall slidable longitudinally onthe shaft, and when in operative position, the marginal portions of the collars 7 fit over the inner portions of the extremities of the engaging elements 6, and hold them in their seats in the carriers'5. Mountedon the shaft near one of its ends, is a clamping collar '8 having its inner face undercut from its periphery to conform to the bevel-of the ends of the engaging elements 6. Adj ustably mounted near theother ."endof the shaft -is an adjustable clamping .co'llar 9 having its inner face similarly undercut. The adjustable clamping collar 9 'hasengagement with the thread 4 so that it may be screwed inwardly on the shaft'to engage the elements 6 on the adjacent carrier 5, or screwedoutwardlyon the shaft to disengage the same and permit movement thereof "away from :the adjacent holding collar 7. The screw-thread engagement of clamping collar 9 causes'it to rotate with the shaft.

The carriers 5 and holding collars 7 being disposed 011 the shaft, as above described, and the 'engagingelements being arranged in the seats 5, when the adjustable clampi ng'collar 9 is-screwedinwardly on the shaft to :engage the engaging elements 6 in the adjacent carrier, it forces all the carriers 5 andcollars 7 longitudinally on the shaft so that all of-said, collars 7 are brought into proper operative coiiperation with the engaging elements '6 on juxtaposed carriers, whereby said elements 6 are clamped securely in their seats. The clamping collar ,8 forms an abutment'against which the clamp- 6 ingactionof the adjustable clamping collar come stuck,

the fact that the engagement between the elementsG and-collars 7, 8 and 9 is on faces which are beveled radially of the shaft, the

pressure on elements 6 and collars 7, 8, and

9 longitudinally of the shaft, causes the elements 6 to be drawn in toward the shaft so that they firmly engage carriers 5, and hold them securely in proper position on the shaft. In the event that any of the engaging elements 6 become damaged, they may be quickly and easily removed and replaced, by screwing the clamping collar 9 outnuirdly on theshaft, and then moving longitudinally on theshaft such of the carriers 5 and holding collars 7 as may be necessary to disengage the ends of the damaged elements (3. To effect this replacement to damaged elements, it is not necessary to disturb the mounting of the roller in its bearings, and inasmuch as the operation may be quickly performed, it does not require that the machine be stopped for any appreciable length of time.

Various features of the construction contribute to the rapid and facile repairmont of the roller in this fashion.

The ends of the elements 6 pro ecting beyond the ends of the carrlers 5, permits their being engaged by any suitable tool to be drawn out,

in case they may have become clogged or rusted. The provision of wrench sockets 10 in the carriers 5 enables a proper spanner or tool being applied to the carriers to loosen them on the shaft in case they may have beor to move them longitudinally thereon. Counter-coring of the carriers 5 greatly reduces the amount of surface necessary to be machlned, and also greatly lecreases the amount of surface in contact with the shaft, and thereby obviates the likelihood of the carriers being rusted to the shaft. Furthermore the spacing apart of the carriers and holding collars prevents their rusting together. These are very important considerations because of the fact that most of the lumber sawed in mills where these rollers are to be employed, is green and wet, and water squeezed out of it by the rollers could work in between these parts, with the result that they would be likely to be rusted together.

In the form of roller illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the engaging elements form irregular projecting portions which are-adapted to engage the lumber and feed it forward and hold it to the action of the saws. In this form, which is designed for handling comparatively wide boards, it will be noted that the engaging elements are interrupted at intervals longitudinally of the rollers by the intervention of the holding collars '7. If desired, allof the elements 6 may be removed from one ofthe carriers 5,

lac

leaving a considerable interval in which the work surface of the feeding roller is free from irregularities.

In case of rollers designed for use on lath machines or re-saws, which handle comparatively narrow or split boards, it is desirable that the irregular work surface of the roller be continuous throughout its length. For the purpose of securing this result, I provide the form of holding collars, clamping collars, and engaging elements illustrated in Figs. t and 5. Here it will be seen that the outer portions of the engaging elements 6 project over and beyond the portions which are beveled out and which are engaged by the beveled faces of the holding collars 7. These extended portions of the engaging elements 6 are of sufiicient length to abut the extremities of engaging elements mounted in adjacent carriers. To give these extended portions the necessary stability, the clamping collars and holding collars are formed with portions extending outwardly beyond the point where the female bevel begins, which outer portions are provided with the notches or grooves 11 suitably spaced to coincide with the seats in the carriers, which grooves are adapted to receive the extended portions of the engaging elements on the adjacent carriers, holding them in alinement, and providing them arigid mounting.

I have illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 a modified construction wherein the ends of the shaft 1 are not reduced, but where a separate thread seat is mounted on the shaft to provide seating for the jam nut 9 of adjustable clamping collar 9. In this construction an annular groove 14: is machined in the shaft, and an annular ring 15, suitably screw-threaded on its outer face, is fitted on the shaft. A split ring 16 is disposed in the groove 14, and forms an abutment to limit the outward movement of the threaded ring 15. A set screw 17 retains the ring 15 in engagement with the split ring 16. The jam nut 9 which moves adjustable clamping collar 9 has engagement with the thread on ring 15.

In edgers, the type of machine in which repairs to the feed rollers are most frequently necessary, I prefer to form the ends of the engaging elements 6 on a bevel, as illustrated in Fig. 1, as it forms a very strong end, and the elements can be cut from metal without any waste whatever. However, a somewhat stronger end and increased clamping action may be secured by forming the bevel rounded, as illustrated in Fig. 3, instead of straight, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

By forming the rollers in the manner above indicated, it will be seen that I secure various highly advantageous results. The carriers are interchangeable, the holding collars are interchangeable, the clamping collars are interchangeable, and the engaging elements are interchangeable, thus reducing to a minimum the number of patterns and dies necessary to manufacture the device, and greatly facilitating the shipping, assembling and installing thereof. Any part when damaged or worn may be replaced at slight expense, not necessitating the scrapping of undamaged portions of the device.

Inasmuch as the feeding rollers are necessarily quite heavy, it will be seen that as sembling is greatly facilitated in my form of roller, as it may be handled section by section, and when once mounted in its bearings, need not be dismounted in order to make any of the repairs. The number of carriers in a roller necessarily will vary with the length of the roller, which is determined by the size of the machine upon which it is used.

I am aware that the device is capable of variations and modifications not herein illustrated and described, without departing from the scope of the invention.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a feed roller, a shaft, a plurality of carriers mounted thereon and provided with longitudinal slots, engaging elements removably mounted in such slots, holding members disposed between the carriers and formed to engage the engaging elements to retain them in the slots, said holding members being provided with perimetrically arranged slots alining with the slots in the carriers and adapted to receive end portions of the engaging elements.

2. In a feed roller, a shaft, a pair of carriers relatively movable thereon and provided with longitudinal slots, a plurality of work engaging elements removably mounted in the slots on each carrier, a holding member disposed intermediate the carriers and adapted to engage engaging elements on both thereof to retain them in their mountings, said holding member being provided with peripheral slots adapted to accommodate end portions of engaging elements on both carriers.

3. A feed roller comprising a shaft, a pair of carriers relatively movable thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending work engaging elements removably mounted on each carrier, a holding member disposed intermediate the carriers and adapted to engage engaging elements on both thereof to retain them in their mountings, the end portions of engaging elements on the respective carriers extending across the periphery of said holding member to provide uninterrupted work engaging members extending longitudinally of the roller.

l. In a feed roller, a shaft, carriers relatively movable thereon, engaging elements removably mounted on said carriers, and a movable clamping member disposed intermediate the carriers and cooperating with the sloping extremities of engaging elements on both thereof in relationship such that pressure may be transmitted from engaging elements on one carrier to those on the other to urge them toward the shaft.

5. A feed roller comprising a shaft, carriers relatively movable thereon, a plurality of engaging elements removably mounted on each carrier, said engaging elements having beveled ends projecting beyond the adjacent end surface of the carriers upon which they are mounted, holding members disposed intermediate the carriers and adapted to engage the beveled ends of engaging elements on adjacent carriers, and clamping means operable to move said holding members and engaging elements longitudinally of the shaft whereby to force the engaging elements radially toward the shaft and clamp them in their mountings.

6. A feed roller including a shaft, relatively movable carriers thereon, a plurality of engaging elements removably mounted on each carrier, and a holding member disposed intermediate and spacedapart from the car riers and movable longitudinally of the shaft, said holding member having its op posite sides reentrantly beveled and adapted to engage the extremities of holding elements on both of the carriers to cam them radially toward the shaft and secure them in operative position.

7. In a feed roller, a shaft, relatively movable carriers thereon, engaging elements removably mounted in said carriers, said engaging elements having sloping extremities, and a clamping member free on the shaft and disposed intermediate the carriers and having undercut converging faces adapted to engage. the extremities of engaging elements on adjacent carriers, and terminal clamping members cooperating with the engaging elements whereby pressure may be transmitted from those on one carrier to those on another through the interposed clamping member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of March, 1915.

THOMAS A. COLEMAN.

\Vitnesses J. L. THOMAS, PETER VnEnnNBUReI-I, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

